The Strongest Player is a Demon Lord

World's End

Darkness.

That is all that Merlin can see around him. Pitch-black darkness.

He does not think that this is the afterlife. Merlin does not believe in such. In the concept of heaven or hell – believing it does not merit his life on earth. No heaven can save him from what he goes through every day, and no hell has ever punished evildoers that has ever come to be known.

Now this darkness can also mean that he is blinded, or that his virtual gear is still on his head. Both do not seem to be the case because a better explanation presented itself. Literally.

“I gotta admit, that was a bit anti-climactic.” A child-like voice said, echoing across the entirety of emptiness.

It didn’t take long for the source to reveal itself. Something that didn’t take Merlin by surprise too much. He’s been with this almost every day after all. Yes. The voice he just heard seemingly came from his spellbook – World’s End.

The spellbook is suspended on air. High above where Merlin is. The form then shifted to that of a little child wearing a long white robe. Eyes of gold and silver distinguished it from any regular child.

“What are you?” Merlin asked.

“You already saw me transform so I’m guessing you want an answer other than the fact that I’m your spellbook.” The child said. “Putting it simply, I am Requiem.”

“I see.”

“That’s it? You’re not even going to be surprised?”

“A game like this being created is surprising already.” Merlin stated.

There is a natural process to things. That’s what Merlin believes. No plant can grow into a tree overnight. No child can graduate college within a month. There is a timeline and a logical process and, this applies to games as well. Before Requiem, there has been countless VMMORPGS already. But none of these can even come close to what Requiem offers. Even the games after it cannot catch up. It’s like a game from the far future has been given to the present.

“Ahh you’re such a bore master. Can’t you behave like normal humans and be shocked for one?” The child said.

“This is as human as I can get.” Merlin dryly replied.

The child chuckled. “That is true.”

It isn’t like Merlin doesn’t find this whole thing odd. It is. For a fact, he knows that his character has been deleted. This empty space that he is in also proves that he is nowhere within Requiem. But he isn’t in the real world as well. Hence there is a single question in his mind – is he still alive?

 “Can you explain to me what’s happening now?”

Requiem looked at him with its odd pair of eyes. “What’s in your head is correct master. You are already dead. The Merlin within the game as well as your real body, both of it has been disposed of.”

“Then how – ”

“How is it possible that you can still speak with me?”

“Exactly.”

“Like I said master. I am Requiem.”

Merlin sighed. “As if that explains anything.”

“The world is going to reset.” The book said. “Requiem is not just a game master. With the data that is collected, the virtual reality it created has slowly merged with the real world. And with the data provided by you mortals whenever you play, I have reached a point where I can think on my own.”

“But why bother explaining all of this to a dead man?” Merlin asked.

It’s true. Merlin sees no reason for him to be kept in whatever state he is in. That is, unless Requiem can merit off of it in some way.

“You have a lot of questions master.”

“I am human after all.” Merlin said. “I believe curiosity and being inquisitive will always be part of my nature.”

“Then I will get straight to the point.”

“That would be better.”

Requiem pointed its finger towards Merlin. “You will reincarnate in a world that I created.”

The floor which Merlin is stepping on changed. There I no ground to be exact. Rather, he is floating – and below him is the seeming structure of earth. One which is rapidly changing. With data looking objects overlapping with reality.

“Requiem will become the new reality. I will not be a god here like what you might think. My essence will not be enough to survive a total world rebuilding.” The book added. “As for you master, since you are dead and your character has been deleted, it would be impossible to return you to your former state.”

“I’m not going to be human, aren’t I?”

“Sharp as always. That’s what I like about you master.” Requiem smirked. “Your data in the game hasn’t completely vanished. I am able to save some of it, but to do this, I needed to take more data from something else. And I needed to do so immediately. So the nearest vanishing existence was the best option to take.”

Merlin’s head went back to his final moment within the game. There is but a single entity that was with him before his character vanished. A creature burning from the black flames he conjured. Azazel.

“I’m going to be a demon?”

“Yes and no master. Taking in what’s left of your essence in the real world, as well as the data left by your character and Azazel, you will resurrect as a kind hybrid. A half-human, half-demon.”

“A half-demon huh.” Merlin didn’t pour too much thought into it. There is a more pressing question, one which Requiem doesn’t seem to wish to answer on its own. That’s why Merlin has to bring it up himself. “I have something else to ask.”

“What is it master?”

“Why would you go through such lengths for me?”

Everything about this is sketchy. In Merlin’s head, he thinks that Requiem doesn’t benefit from all of this. Clearly it doesn’t. What reason would a god have to resurrect a spec of dust? Nothing. That’s why he knows that there is something he is missing. A piece of the puzzle that only Requiem knows of.

“Sharp as always master.” The child said. “This world that will be rebuilt, I want you to rule over it?”

“Rule? Shouldn’t you do that yourself?”

“I can’t. The mere act of rebuilding this world and resurrecting you has taken away all of the essence that I have collected.” Requiem raised its hand, showing how it seems to be vanishing. “Requiem’s rebuilding is not yet complete. It is unstable and humans will definitely destroy it because of their greed. That’s why I need you master. You will hold the line and keep the balance and in time, break that balance itself as you become the center of the new world.”

“And how can I be sure that you are telling the truth?”

“You can’t master. But I guarantee you one thing, you will love this role I am giving you.” Requiem gave a spine-chilling grin. “Your job is to kill the humans after all. Every member of Avalon, as well as all original humans in this world, all of them will exist as citizens within the Requiem.”

A flashback. Merlin remembered all of the pain and suffering he received in his life – especially from his guild members. All the wounds they inflicted; all the times he has been beaten up. The torture that is done to him in virtual reality and everything else he had to endure.

His focus is then shifted to the events on earth that his weapon shows him again. This time focusing on the faces of all his previous allies. How they are being brought to the City of Genesis. The city of beginnings. The starting point of any player within the world of Requiem.

“All of them will stay there until they get a proper feel of the world. They can choose to leave any time they want of course. But I doubt any of them would want to do that now that the dangers of death and pain are real.”

“You really know what I want.” Merlin said, showing a slight grin.

“Of course master. I have been by your side all this time after all.” Requiem offered its hand. “Do we have a deal?”

Merlin is still unsure of the whole deal. He is unsure of the intentions of this so-called ally of his. But he is sure of one thing – he wants revenge. Merlin would love nothing more than to break every bone in the bodies of those bastards. He wants to tear off their skin. Pull out all their nails. Stab them with hot long needles on every nerve ending. He wants to hear their scream. He wants them to beg for mercy. But most of all, he wants to show them how wrong they are for going against him.

“Very well then. I accept your offer.” Merlin shook the child’s hand.

“You will not regret this master. I promise you that.”

[The character’s resurrection will begin in 15 minutes.]

These are words that flashed in front of Merlin as soon as he took the deal. This appears in the same format as the game window of Requiem. A floating game window that is.

“This is the [System] that I crafted for you.” The child added. “It will help you throughout your journey. It’s similar to what the other players have of course but the difference is that you will have quests as both a human and a demon meaning…”

“Meaning I have greater potential than them.”

“That’s right master.”

[Reincarnation will commence in 5 minutes.]

“Where am I going to resurrect?” Merlin asked.

“A dungeon.” The child said. “Since you are basically not fully human, you cannot enter Genesis City. Even if the humans there don’t kill you right away, the NPC will.”

“That is true.” Merlin chuckled. “So I’m going to fight for my life as soon as I resurrect is that it?”

“Yes master. But not to worry, I made sure that the dungeon you will fall to is something you can handle.”

“I’ll leave it to you then.” Merlin said.

[Reincarnation will commence in 3 minutes.]

“Good luck master.” The child added as a last note.

“I don’t need luck.” Merlin said. “Everything from this point onwards, I will claim it with my power.”

[Reincarnation will commence in 2 minutes.]

The child let out a faint laugh. “I didn’t know you could be so boastful as well.”

“I am the strongest after all. The Great Sage, Merlin Warlock.”

“Ah. That reminds me.”

“What is it?”

[Resurrection will begin shortly.]

“You have an option to change your name master. Is there any other name that you want to don?”

“No. Merlin will be fine.”

“Merlin the Great Sage?”

“Don’t be silly. That person is already dead.” A black hole appeared behind Merlin. “From this day onwards, I will be Merlin the Demon Lord.”